12 Home Remedies for Swimmer’s Ear

Swimmer’s ear is an infection affecting the outer ear canal, which extends from the eardrum to the outside of the head. Most of the time, swimmer’s ear occurs when water remains in the ear canal after you swim, forming a moist environment that allows bacteria to grow. Initial symptoms of swimmer’s ear include drainage of clear fluid from your ear, itchiness in your ear canal, and slight redness in your ear. It’s important to treat swimmer’s ear right away so that your symptoms don’t become worse. These home remedies for swimmer’s ear are perfect because they allow you to treat your infection immediately.

1. Alcohol & Vinegar

As far as home remedies for swimmer’s ear go, alcohol and vinegar is a very effective one. Alcohol combines with the water in your ear and then evaporates, removing the moisture from your ear. Vinegar prevents bacteria from growing in your ear canal.

Necessary Items

Rubbing alcohol

Vinegar

Directions

To use this swimmers ear home remedy, combine equal parts rubbing alcohol and vinegar. Put a few drops of the mixture into each of your ears daily until your infection is gone. You can also use this home remedy long-term to help prevent swimmer’s ear.

2. Olive Oil & Garlic

Olive oil is one of the best swimmers ear home remedies because it contains antiseptic properties that help reduce infection. Adding garlic to the olive oil will increase the antiseptic properties you receive.

Necessary Items

Garlic clove

Olive oil

Clean container

Directions

To use this home remedy for swimmers ear, grate a garlic clove, and put it in a container filled with olive oil. Allow the grated garlic to soak in the olive oil overnight. In the morning, strain the mix and slightly warm it up, making sure it isn’t too hot. Put two to three drops in each ear daily until you notice an improvement in your infection.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is another one of the most effective home remedies for swimmer’s ear you can try as it is a natural antibacterial agent. It also helps dry the fluid in your ear and aids in clearing up the infection.

Necessary Items

3% hydrogen peroxide

Dropper

Directions

Lie down, use the dropper to put three to four drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in the affected ear, and remain lying down for five minutes. Then, tilt your head to allow the hydrogen peroxide to drain out of your ear. Use this effective swimmer’s ear home remedy twice a day until your infection is gone.

4. Breast Milk

Breast milk is one of the most effective home remedies for swimmer’s ear in babies. The natural antibodies breast milk contains help fight swimmer’s ear. Breast milk also aids in relieving the swelling and pain associated with the ear infection. If you have an infant that got swimmer’s ear after bath time, this is the first home remedy you should try.

Necessary Items

Breast milk

Tiny dropper

Directions

Use a dropper to place three to four drops of breast milk into the baby’s infected ear and keep them lying down for five minutes. Then, gently tilt their head and allow the fluid to drain from their ear. Repeat this process every three to four hours until you notice an improvement in their symptoms.

5. Colloidal Silver

Colloidal silver has antimicrobial properties and can act as an antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent, making it a good choice as far as home remedies for swimmer’s ear are concerned. Do not use more than three drops in the infected ear twice a day because when colloidal silver is used in large quantities, it can strip the good bacteria from your ear canal.

Necessary Items

Colloidal silver

Dropper

Directions

To use colloidal silver as a swimmers ear home remedy, lie down on your side with your infected ear pointing upward. Use a dropper to put three drops of colloidal silver into your infected ear and remain lying down for five minutes. Then, tilt your head and allow the liquid to drain from your ear. You can use colloidal silver twice a day until your infection is gone.

6. Onion Juice

Onion juice is another one of the most effective swimmer’s ear home remedies you can use as it is an effective disinfectant. Additionally, it can provide relief from the pain associated with swimmer’s ear within a short period of time.

Necessary Items

One small onion

Clean microwave-safe container

Dropper

Directions

Drain the juice from one small onion into a microwave-safe container and slightly warm it in the microwave, ensuring that it doesn’t get too hot. Then, lie down on your side with your infected ear pointing upward and use the dropper to place two to three drops of onion juice into your ear. Remain lying down for five minutes before tilting your head and allowing the liquid to drain from your ear. You can repeat this process two to three times each day until your infection clears.

7. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil possesses liposomal lauric acids, which contain antimicrobial properties. Coconut oil also possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which makes it one of the best swimmers ear home remedies you can try.

Necessary Items

Coconut oil

Clean cotton balls

Dropper

Directions

Use a dropper to put two drops of coconut oil into your infected ear. Open and close your mouth a few times or manually wiggle the outside of your ear with your fingers so that the coconut oil gets all over your ear canal. Gently put the clean cotton ball into your ear, and leave it there for 15 to 20 minutes. Do this twice a day until you notice an improvement in your swimmer’s ear.

8. Essential Oils

As far as home remedies for swimmer’s ear go, lavender oil, lemon oil, and coconut oil is an effective combination to treat the infection. Lavender oil contains antifungal and antibacterial properties, which help fight the ear infection. Lemon oil has the ability to relieve the pain associated with the infection with its analgesic properties.

Necessary Items

Two to three drops of lavender essential oil

One-half teaspoon of coconut oil

One to two drops of lemon essential oil

Clean cotton balls

Directions

Put two to three drops of lavender essential oil onto a clean cotton ball and place the cotton ball gently inside your ear. Mix one-half teaspoon coconut oil and one to two drops lemon essential oil together in your hands, then apply the mixture in a downward motion behind your ear starting at the top of your ear and working your way down toward your jaw. Continue to massage the oils into your skin until the oil mixture is gone. Leave the cotton ball in your ear until you experience pain relief. You can repeat this process every three to four hours until your infection clears.

9. Holy Basil

Holy basil is an excellent swimmer’s ear home remedy. Holly basil’s antibiotic properties aid in fighting the ear infection. It also provides relief from the pain and discharge associated with swimmer’s ear.

Necessary Items

Four to five basil leaves

Clean microwave-safe container

Dropper

Directions

Put the juice of four to five basil leaves into a clean microwave-safe container and slightly warm it up in the microwave ensuring it doesn’t get too hot. Then, lie down with your infected ear pointed upward and use a dropper to put two to three drops of the basil juice into your ear. Remain lying down for five minutes before tilting your head and allowing the fluid to drain from your ear. You can use this home remedy twice each day until your infection is gone.

10. Oregano Oil

Oregano oil contains antibacterial properties. It also decreases the pain, swelling, and inflammation associated with swimmer’s ear. Thus, as far as home remedies for swimmer’s ear go, oregano oil is a great one.

Necessary Items

Oregano oil

Clean cotton ball

Directions

Put two to three drops of oregano oil onto a clean cotton ball, and rub it around the outside and back of your ear. Never put oregano oil directly into your ear canal. Reapply oregano oil every three to four hours until your swimmer’s ear improves.

Caution: Do not use oregano oil if you are taking blood thinning medication!

11. Castor Oil

Castor oil possesses antimicrobial properties and destroys any harmful fungi or bacteria living in your ear canal. Castor oil also helps dissolve any earwax buildup. The warmth of the oil will soothe your ear canal as well.

Necessary Items

Castor oil

Dropper

Clean cotton ball

Washcloth

Directions

Warm some castor oil in the microwave, ensuring that it doesn’t get too hot. Then, lie on your side with your infected ear facing upward and use a dropper to put two to three drops of castor oil into the infected ear. Gently put a cotton ball in your ear to help the oil stay in place. Sleep with the castor oil in your ear overnight. In the morning, wipe out your ear with a warm wet washcloth. Repeat this process nightly for one week.

12. Mullein Oil

Mullein oil contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it another one of the best home remedies for swimmer’s ear. It decreases inflammation by reducing the superoxide radicals that are responsible for it.

Necessary Items

Mullein oil

Dropper

Warm the mullein oil a little in the microwave, ensuring that it doesn’t become too hot. Lie down with your infected ear pointed upward. Use a dropper to put two to three drops of mullein oil into your infected ear. Remain lying down for 15 minutes before tilting your head and allowing the fluid to drain from your ear. Repeat this process twice a day.

Conclusion

Swimmer’s ear is an ear infection that affects the ear canal. The initial symptoms of swimmer’s ear are usually mild. However, without prompt treatment, swimmer’s ear symptoms can become advanced and cause complications. The home remedies for swimmer’s ear listed here will help you treat your ear infection quickly and effectively. Do you know of any swimmers ear home remedies? Please share your experiences with us below.